Electronic payment system for operating automated machine

ABSTRACT

An electronic payment system is provided to comprise a mobile terminal  10  for emitting remotely operable signals, and a printing machine  11  that comprises a communications device  5  for receiving the remotely operable signals emitted from mobile terminal  10  to drive automated machine  1,  an automatic payment device  6  connected to communications device  5  and a financial database  7  of a banking depository system, and a printer  51  connected to communications device  5  for printing information on a record radium for the real-time electronic transaction without credit transaction to offer goods, services or amusement to users from automated machine  1  and to dispense recording medium for users to confirm the transaction fee amount that was withdrawn from the account at financial database  7.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is the U.S. Continuation In-Part Application of Ser.No. 13/644,352 filed Oct. 4, 2012 and now matured into U.S. Pat. No.9,582,957 which claims priority of Japanese Patent Application No.2011-220456 filed Oct. 4, 2011.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to an electronic payment system with a printingmachine that receives remotely operable signals transmitted from amobile terminal such as a cell phone to operate an automated machineconnected to the printing machine by real-time electronic paymenttransaction without credit transaction.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In countries such as the U.S. that authorize casino-owning business,players can enjoy games with gaming machines while paying cash for gamesin casinos or game halls. Some of known gaming machines usually have abill acceptor for example as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,264,556 (Document1). In another aspect, Japanese Patent Disclosure No. 2009-265991(Document 2) demonstrates an electronic settlement system in game hallssuch as amusement arcades.

A gaming machine shown in Document 1 comprises a button panel includinga display and a user interface area for allowing an operator to play agame of chance, a bill acceptor incorporated into the machine foraccepting and validating currency to credit the user with acorresponding number of play credits for the gaming apparatus, and anote dispenser for dispensing currency as payout for successful play.

An electronic settlement system exhibited in Document 2 comprises aplurality of terminal systems each electrically connected tocorresponding one of a plurality of gaming machines provided inamusement arcades to handle transaction fee information in terminalsystems, and a payment device communicated with the terminal systemsthrough a communication network to electronically pay playing fees ingaming machines from terminal systems. Each terminal system comprises acard processor for rewriting squared information stored in an IC(integrated circuit) card for settlement and a settlement controller forestablishing a telecommunication with the payment device to send andreceive squared information between the card processor and settlementcontroller in accordance with command signals from the electronicsettlement device and to give a gaming machine a permission of theutilization when receiving a notice of settlement completion from thepayment device. The payment device comprises a signal processor formaking settlement based on squared information read from IC card througha terminal system and for writing new squared information on the IC cardthrough the terminal system upon completion of payment process, asettlement communicator for sending a settlement signal of the paymentto the terminal system, and a processing communicator for sendingprocessed information on settlement process to a superior settlementsystem through a communication route except the communication network.

Meanwhile, a known debit card is a plastic card that allows electronicaccess of the cardholder to his or her bank account at a financialinstitution. Some cards have a stored value for payment by withdrawingfunds from a designated account in favor of the designated payee's bankaccount. The card can be used as an alternative payment method to cashwhen making purchases. In some cases, the primary account number isassigned for use on the Internet. Unlike credit and charge cards, adebit card makes it possible to make an immediate payment to a payeefrom the cardholder's designated bank account. Debit cards usually alsoallow for instant withdrawal of cash, acting as the ATM card forwithdrawing cash.

However, until now, no one has ever presented an electronic paymentsystem with a printing machine that operates an automated machine toautomatically offer goods, services or amusement to users through makingreal-time electronic payment transaction. On the other hand, there wouldbe a need for providing an electronic payment system that has a printingmachine for receiving remotely operable signals emitted from a mobileterminal such as a cell phone to perform real-time electronic paymenttransaction and as a result to drive an automated machine toautomatically provide users with goods, services or amusement.

An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic paymentsystem with a printing machine capable of making electronic spotsettlement for driving an automated machine to automatically offergoods, services or amusement to users. Another object of the presentinvention is to provide an electronic payment system for operating anautomated machine through a selected cashless electronic or cashpayment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The electronic payment system according to the present inventioncomprise a mobile terminal (10) for emitting remotely operable signals,a printing machine (11) arranged off from mobile terminal (10), afinancial database (7) of a banking depository system, and an automatedmachine (1) driven by printing machine (11). Printing machine (11)comprises a communications device (5) for receiving the remotelyoperable signals emitted from mobile terminal (10) to drive automatedmachine (1), an automatic payment device (6) connected to communicationsdevice (5) and financial database (7), and a printer (51) connected tocommunications device (5) for printing information on a record radium.

Communications device (5) retrieves from remotely operable signalsaccount number signals identifying a holder of the account at thefinancial database and retrieves or receives monetary signals indicativeof a transaction fee necessary to drive automated machine (1)simultaneously with, before or after receiving remotely operablesignals. Automatic payment device (6) receives from communicationsdevice (5) the holder's account number signals and the amount of thetransaction fee, and withdraws the amount of the transaction fee fromthe holder's account at financial database (7) of the banking depositorysystem. Then, automatic payment device (6) deposits the withdrawntransaction fee into another person's account at the financial databaseconcerned with automated machine (1) and produces an authorizationsignal to communications device (5) that then produces the monetarysignals indicative of the transaction fee to drive automated machine (1)for completion of prompt electronic transaction. Printer (51) prints onthe recording medium the monetary signals indicative of the transactionfee received from communications device (5) and issues the recordingmedium. Thus, the present invention may accomplish the real-timeelectronic transaction without credit transaction to offer goods,services or amusement to users from automated machine (1).Simultaneously, users can see the dispensed recording medium to confirmthe amount of the transaction fee that was withdrawn from the holder'saccount at the financial database (7).

Another aspect of the electronic payment system according to the presentinvention comprises: a mobile terminal (10) for emitting remotelyoperable signals, a printing machine (11) arranged off from mobileterminal (10), and an automated machine (1) driven by monetary signalsfrom printing machine (11). Mobile terminal (10) comprises: a memorydevice (34) for storing an electronic amount signal of prepaid money andat least one of specific PIN and ID number signals for identifying aholder of the mobile terminal (10), a transmission device (32) foremitting the remotely operable signals including at least the electronicamount signal and the specific signal, and a reception device (33) forreceiving a deduction signal emitted from printing machine (11).Printing machine (11) comprises: a communications device (5) forreceiving the remotely operable signals emitted from mobile terminal(10), a storage device (13) for storing at least one of users' PIN andID number signals, and a recording device (51) connected tocommunications device (5) for printing information on a record radium.

Communication device (5) continuously does performances (i) to (vii)made up of executions: (i) receiving the remotely operable signals fromthe movable terminal (10), (ii) retrieving the electronic amount signaland the at least one of the specific signals in the remotely operablesignals, (iii) also receiving monetary signals indicative of atransaction fee necessary to drive the automated machine (1)simultaneously with, before or after receiving the remotely operablesignals, the monetary signals being either contained in the receivedremotely operable signals or transmitted from an entry device (25)provided in the automated machine (1), (iv) comparing the at least oneof the specific signals with the at least one of users' specific PIN andID number signals stored in the storage device (13), (v) producingmonetary signals when the communications device (5) considers themonetary signals and the at least one of the specific signals to beeffective as a result of the comparison to drives the automated device(1) by the monetary signals, (vi) depositing the withdrawn transactionfee into another person's account concerned with the automated machine(1), and (vii) forwarding the deduction signal to reception device (33)of mobile terminal (10). Reception device (33) in the mobile terminal(10) receives the deduction signal from communications device (5) todeduct the transaction fee from the prepaid money amount in memorydevice (34). Printer (51) prints on the recording medium the monetarysignals indicative of the transaction fee received from communicationsdevice (5) and issues the recording medium.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned and other objects and advantages of the presentinvention will be apparent from the following description in connectionwith the accompanying drawings showing preferred embodiments of theelectronic payment system of the invention wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a basic concept of the electronicpayment system according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a first embodiment of the presentinvention applied to a gaming machine;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a stacker removed from anautomated machine and arranged on a reading device to retrieveinformation from a memory device attached to the stacker in thenon-contact condition of the memory device with the reading device;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart indicating an operational sequence of the gamingmachine according to the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a second embodiment of the gamingmachine of prepaid card transaction type according to the presentinvention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the basic concept of the electronicpayment system of a bank account withdrawal type according to thepresent invention that comprises a mobile terminal 10 for emittingremotely operable signals, a printing machine 11 arranged off frommobile terminal 10, a financial database 7 of a banking depositorysystem, and an automated machine 1 driven by printing machine 11.Printing machine 11 comprises a communications device 5 for receivingthe remotely operable signals emitted from mobile terminal 10 to driveautomated machine 1, an automatic payment device 6 connected tocommunications device 5 and financial database 7, and a printer 51connected to communications device 5 for printing on a record radiuminformation on automated machine 1 to inform users of.

Communications device 5 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 continuously doesperformances (i) to (iv) made up of executions: (i) receiving theremotely operable signals from mobile terminal 10, (ii) retrieving fromthe remotely operable signals, account number signals identifying aholder of the account at financial database 7 and monetary signalsindicative of a transaction fee necessary to drive automated machine 1,(iii) forwarding the account number signals and monetary signals toautomatic payment device 6 that then makes automatic electronicsettlement and produces an authorization signal to communications device5. At this time, as a further execution (iv), communications device 5produces the monetary signals indicative of the transaction fee to driveautomated machine 1 for completion of prompt electronic transaction.Automated machine 1 adoptable in the present invention may include cashdispensers, automated teller machines, vending machines, moneyexchangers, ticket machines, gaming machines or other type ofmoney-operated machines, equipment and apparatus. Embodiments of thepresent invention herein adopt gaming machines as an example ofautomated machines, however, it would be apparent to those skilled inthe art that they can similarly apply the invention to other drivenmachines or money-operated apparatus in a similar manner to theseexplanations.

Mobile terminal 10 emits remotely operable signals that includesinformation on a specific or unique account number or debit card numberof financial database 7 identifying a holder of the account. Mobileterminal 10 radiates the remotely operable signals such as a radio orwireless signal or an optical beam signal of infrared, ultraviolet orvisible ray, etc. to receive remotely operable signals by communicationsdevice 5. Mobile terminal 10 and communications device 5 areelectrically connected to each other through wired or wireless mutualcommunication means for radio or optical connection. Mobile terminal 10also may include a cellular phone, a smart phone utilizing wirelessapplication protocol (WAP), personal digital assistant (PDA), portablecomputer, or a hand held computer for electronic payment through thedebit or prepaid card transaction system. Debit card transaction systemsmay include J-Debit, VISADebit and Debit Master. Prepaid cardtransaction systems may include Eddy, Suica, PASMO, nanaco, and WAON.The aforementioned systems and devices are exemplary and mobile terminal10 may comprise ones for other electronic payment systems or devices.Also, mobile terminal 10 may be an electronic computer terminal or an ICcard that incorporates a built-in non-contact IC chip such as forexample FeliCa (Registered Mark), MIFARE (Registered Mark) or NFC (NearField Communication) chips.

Communications device 5 and automatic payment device 6 are electricallylinked to each other through wired, wireless or intranet connection,Internet or combination thereof. Payment device 6 and financial database7 such as banking depository systems are linked to each other throughwired, wireless, intranet connection, Internet or combination thereof.In embodiments of the present invention, communications device 5 may bedisposed within, outside of or adjacent to gaming machine 3 so far asusers may operate mobile terminal 10 to get access to communicationsdevice 5 in the vicinity of or at a location not too far away fromgaming machine 3. Both communications device 5 and payment device 6 maybe disposed within or outside of a casing 2 of gaming machine 3 for anyspatial reason, so far as users may easily get access gaming machine 3and operate communications device 5. For a similar reason, one ofcommunications device 5 and payment device 6 may be disposed within oroutside of casing 2 so far as they may be electrically linked eachother.

In this invention, the remotely operable signals emitted from mobileterminal 10 to communications device 5 certainly contains account numbersignals identifying a holder of the account at financial database 7 of abanking depository system. In contrast to this, there are two channelsfor sending monetary signals indicative of a transaction fee necessaryto drive automated machine 1, and one route for the monetary signals isto convey it together with the remotely operable signals from mobileterminal 10 to communications device 5, and another route is to forwardit from entry device 25 to communications device 5 independently fromthe remotely operable signals. In this way, communications device 5always receives the account number signals identifying a holder of theaccount at financial database 7 of banking depository system and themonetary signals indicative of a transaction fee necessary to driveautomated machine 1 when these signals are sent to communications device5 through the same channel from mobile terminal 10 or through thedifferent channels from mobile terminal 10 and entry device 25. A holderof the financial account usually is a same person that owns the mobileterminal, however, may be a different person from the owner of themobile terminal.

When the remotely operable signals contain both of the account numbersignals and the monetary signals, communications device 5 simultaneouslyreceives and retrieves these signals from the remotely operable signals.When communications device 5 receives the remotely operable signalscontaining the only account number signals, it retrieves the accountnumber signals, and at this time, communications device 5 can receivethe monetary signals from entry device 25 before or after receivingremotely operable signals. It follows that communications device 5receives the monetary signals simultaneously with, before or afterreceiving remotely operable signals.

Automatic payment device 6 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, continuously does theperformances (i) to (iv) made up of executions: (i) receives theholder's account number signals and the amount of the transaction feereceived from communications device 5, (ii) gets access to financialdatabase 7 and withdraws the amount of the transaction fee from theholder's account at financial database 7 of the banking depositorysystem, (iii) deposits the withdrawn transaction fee into anotherperson's account at the financial database 7 concerned with automatedmachine 1 and (iv) after completion of prompt electronic transaction,produces an authorization signal to communications device 5 that thenproduces the monetary signals indicative of the transaction fee to driveautomated machine 1. A vending machine for automated machine 1 dispensesan article or articles commensurate to or worth the transaction fee.

Printer 51 of printing machine 11 prints on the recording medium themonetary signals indicative of the transaction fee received fromcommunications device 5 and issues the recording medium. Thus, thepresent invention may accomplish the real-time electronic transactionwithout credit transaction with the electronic payment system to offergoods, services or amusement to users from automated machine 1.Simultaneously, users can see the dispensed recording medium to confirmthe amount of the transaction fee that was withdrawn from the holder'saccount at financial database 7.

In a second embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2 applied to agaming machine 3 as an automated machine 1 driven by communicationsdevice 5, same reference symbols are applied to same or similar elementsshown in FIG. 1, omitting their description. Gaming machine 3 in FIG. 2is disposed in a single casing 2 that also accommodates printing machine11 and a bill acceptor 4 to drive gaming machine 3 with monetary signalsfrom communications device 5 or bill acceptor 4. Communications device 5comprises a communications interface 5 a for receiving the remotelyoperable signals from mobile terminal 10 and a signal processor 5 b forreceiving the remotely operable signals from communications interface 5a to retrieve from remotely operable signals and produce account numbersignals that identify a holder of the account at financial database 7and if necessary holder's PIN and/or ID numbers and monetary signals toforward them to automatic payment device 6.

Bill acceptor 4 comprises an inlet sensor 21 for producing a detectionsignal when a bill is inserted into bill acceptor 4, a bill sensor 22for producing a characteristic signal inclusive of an optical ormagnetic signal when a bill is moved along bill sensor 22, a conveyor(not shown) for transporting a bill along a passageway 23 in billacceptor 4 and a control device 8 for receiving detection signal frominlet sensor 21 and characteristic signal from bill sensor 22 to producedrive signals to conveyor when control device 8 considers the billgenuine. Specifically, control device 8 may verify whether or not thebill is genuine and what kind of denomination the bill has, and when itdecides that the bill is genuine, control device 8 generates adenomination signal of the bill as monetary signals to gaming machine 3.Receiving each of monetary signals from control device 8, gaming machine3 is driven with drive signals commensurate or corresponding to theamount of received monetary signals. Printer 51 connected tocommunications device 5 prints on a recording medium gaming information,data on refund amount and administration codes to issue the recordingmedium as a coupon.

On the other hand, control device 8 also receives from communicationsdevice 5 monetary signals sent from mobile terminal 10, and so,transmits to gaming machine 3 either of monetary signals that billacceptor 4 produces and relays from communications device 5 to drivegaming machine 3 with the monetary signals. Control device 8 iselectrically connected to a converter 5 c of communications device 5 forconverting denomination signal from signal processor 5 b into a serialdenomination signal and transmitting serial denomination signal tocontrol device 8 of bill acceptor 4. Control device 8 has a memory areafor storing a specific code identifying gaming machine 3 and alsostoring both monetary signals that bill acceptor 4 produces and relaysfrom communications device 5. Otherwise, communications device 5 mayforward monetary signals of transaction fee directly to gaming machine 3skipping bill acceptor 4 so that gaming machine 3 may be driven withsignals of the amount equivalent to the transaction fee amount. Thisallows users to select either cash or cashless electronic payment forgaming in amusement halls or casinos.

The present invention also contemplates that bill acceptor 4 mayvalidate valuable coupon tickets, scrip, tender, tokens or substitutesof bills. When control device 8 considers any of these scrips genuine,it forwards the denomination signal of the scrips as monetary signals togaming machine 3 for the activation. Each of monetary signals mayindicate a money amount corresponding to one or more of denominations ofbills optically or magnetically readable by bill acceptor 4. In otherwords, money amount to be transmitted may be selected from amounts indenominations of bills readable by bill acceptor 4. By way of example,when bill acceptor 4 can selectively validate bills of five kinds, i.e.one-dollar, five-dollar, ten-dollar, twenty-dollar or one hundred-dollarbills, it would be preferable to send signals of the amount selectedfrom one-dollar, five-dollar, ten-dollar, twenty-dollar or onehundred-dollar bill from mobile terminal 10 to communications device 5.Thus, gaming machine 3 can be operated with drive signals whileselecting cash disbursement or cashless electronic payment.

Bill acceptor 4 also comprises a stacker 9 for accommodating billsconsidered genuine by control device 8, and a memory device 12electrically connected to control device 8 and attached to stacker 9 forstoring monetary or denomination signals, account number signals, PINand ID number signals and specific code signals identifying gamingmachine 3 forwarded from control device 8. Control device 8distinctively stores in the memory area both monetary signals producedby control device 8 and transmitted from communications device 5. Memorydevice 12 distinctively stores both monetary signals transmitted fromboth control device 8 and communications device 5, account numbersignals, PIN and ID number signals and specific code signals identifyinggaming machine 3 all forwarded from control device 8.

Bill acceptor 4 is removably attached to gaming machine 3 and alsostacker 9 is removably attached to bill acceptor 4 to easily take outand collect bills accumulated in stacker 9. Accordingly, when bills instacker 9 are to be collected, bill acceptor 4 is detached from gamingmachine 3 and then stacker 9 is removed from bill acceptor 4.

In operation, when mobile terminal 10 moves closer to communicationsdevice 5, it emits radio signals inclusive of the account number signalsof financial database 7 identifying a holder of the account andtransaction fee signals to be paid for operation of gaming machine 3.Then, communications device 5 receives radio signals to retrieveholder's account number signals in radio signals and also receivemonetary signals indicative of transaction fee that may be involved inradio signals. Alternatively, communications device 5 may be connectedto an entry device 25 for inputting monetary signals of a transactionfee for gaming machine 3 to transmit monetary signals from entry device25 to communications device 5. Then, payment device 6 may receivemonetary signals from entry device 25 through communications device 5simultaneously with, before or after receiving radio signal from mobileterminal 10. Then, just like through an on-line debit or prepaid cardsystem, payment device 6 may withdraw the transaction fee amount fromthe holder's account at financial database 7 when the transaction feeamount is within a deposit balance of the account. Then, payment device6 produces an authorization signal to communications device 5 that thensends the monetary signals to gaming machine 3 to drive it.

In another embodiment of the present invention, remotely operablesignals may include PIN and/or ID number signals to more strictlyidentify the holder in addition to the holder's account number signalsof mobile terminal 10 to increase security against unauthorized accessto the holder's account. When mobile terminal 10 emits radio signalinclusive of account number and PIN and/or ID number, communicationsdevice 5 may receive radio signals, retrieve account number and PINand/or ID number signals from radio signals and withdraw the transactionfee amount from the holder's account at financial database 7 when PINand/or ID numbers correspond to one or ones of pass-codes or secretnumbers at financial database 7. In lieu of PIN and/or ID numberincluded in radio signals, entry device 25 may be used to produce PINand/or ID number signals from entry device 25 connected tocommunications device 5 to feed them to payment device 6 throughcommunications device 5 so that payment device 6 may withdraw thetransaction fee amount from the holder's account at financial database 7when PIN and/or ID numbers correspond to one or ones of pass-codes orsecret numbers at financial database 7.

In a further embodiment of the instant invention, communications device5 may be connected to a visual and/or acoustic display device 20. Whencommunications device 5 receives authorization signal from paymentdevice 6, it produces and transmits a deal signal to mobile terminal 10and/or to display device 20 to exhibit deal signal thereon. On anotheraspect, when communications device 5 fails to retrieve account number inradio signal or retrieves incorrect account number, payment device 6produces an unauthorized signal to communications device 5 that thenproduces and forwards a no-deal signal to mobile terminal 10 and/or todisplay device 20 for exhibition of no-deal signal.

For example, when gaming machine 3 has completed its program-controlledoperation or when a force-quit button 24 is operated to terminate thegame, gaming machine 3 generates a refund money signal of an unspentremaining amount, award, prize or jackpot obtained from the game if any.Drive device 3 may transmit refund money signal and management codesignal to printer 11 and also to signal processor 5 b of communicationsdevice 5 to store money amount to be refunded in signal processor 5 b.Signal processor 5 b may also transmit refund money signal to receptionmeans 33 of mobile terminal 10 through communications interface 5 a sothat mobile terminal 10 may receive and write the refund money signal inmemory device 34 of mobile terminal 10 to add money amount in memorydevice 34. Printer 11 may record data on the refund money signal andnecessary management code signals from gaming machine 3 on recordingmedium or media and prepares a coupon of recording media fordispensation of the coupon from printer 11. In this way, a mutualintercommunication system may be established to transport and receiveelectronic signals between mobile terminal 10 and signal processor 5 bthrough wired, wireless or radio or optical connection. Specifically,communications interface 5 a may receive remotely operable signals frommobile terminal 10, and transmit it to signal processor 5 b that mayreceive remotely operable signals from communications interface 5 a.Signal processor 5 b may also retrieve and produce signals of accountnumber or debit card number signals for identifying the account owner orholder and the holder's PIN and/or ID number and monetary signals or adenomination signal contained in remotely operable signals and may thensend the information to payment device 6.

After or before bills are extracted from stacker 9, it is put on areadout device 13 as shown in FIG. 3, but storage device 12 attached tostacker 9 is retained in the non-contact condition away from readoutdevice 43 that may be operated to retrieve the following four kinds ofinformation stored in storage device 12:

(i) Total amount and total number of bills stowed in stacker 9;

(ii) All denomination signals of bills;

(iii) All account numbers that identify account holders involved; and

(iv) The specific code signals identifying gaming machine 3 from whichstacker 9 has been removed.

The information readout device 43 has retrieved from storage device 12is compared with the information of bills removed from stacker 9 andwith the information from communications device 5 to inspect whether ornot they match.

In still another embodiment, gaming machine 3 may comprise an entrydevice made up of a plurality of choice switches, namely entry device 25such as image switches on a display screen or made up of mechanicalselector switches to be chosen to determine a denomination of bills forpayment for games so that one or more of choice switches may be selectedto determine one or more of different charge amounts to be paid forgaming to transmit one or more charge or denomination signals to signalprocessor 5 b of communications device 5. On the other hand, when mobileterminal 10 transmits to communications device 5 remotely operablesignals including holder's account number signals, communicationsinterface 5 a may receive account number signals from mobile terminal10, and signal processor 5 b may receive chosen charge signal from entrydevice 25 and holder's account number signals transmitted from mobileterminal 10.

In operation of gaming machine 3, a user may select either cash orcashless electronic payment for games with gaming machine 3. Selecting acashless electronic payment, he or she may operate entry device 31 ofmobile terminal 10 to input money amount of gaming fees into CPU 35 thatmay synthesize remotely operable signals by placing on a carrier wavethe money amount of gaming fees and account number signals stored inmemory device 34 and then transmit remotely operable signals tocommunications device 5 through transmission device 32. In this way,user may move closer to gaming machine 3 and allow mobile terminal 10 tolightly touch communications interface 5 a while making mobile terminal10 produce and transmit remotely operable signals.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart indicating further processing subsequent totransmission of remotely operable signals from mobile terminal 10 whereprocessing moves on from Step 50 to 51, and so, signal processor 5 bdetermines whether to receive remotely operable signals from mobileterminal 10. Receiving remotely operable signals through communicationsinterface 5 a in Step 51, procedure goes to Step 60 where signalprocessor 5 b retrieves account number signals and monetary signals fromremotely operable signals when remotely operable signals contain bothaccount number and monetary signals. As mentioned before, in lieu oftransmission of monetary signals from mobile terminal 10, monetarysignals may be produced from entry device 25 to signal processor 5 b.Then, signal processor 5 b sends them to payment device 6 that receivesaccount number and monetary signals and gains access to financialdatabase 7 in Step 61 to determine whether the holder's account islegitimate and the transaction fee amount is within a deposit balance ofthe account. When payment device 6 approves holder's account aslegitimate and transaction fee amount as being within a deposit balanceof the account, it may withdraw the transaction fee amount from holder'saccount at financial database 7 (Step 64).

Subsequently, payment device 6 produces a deal signal and a denominationsignal as monetary signals to signal processor 5 b (Step 65) that thenreceives denomination signal; converter 5 c converts denomination signalinto a serial denomination signal to control device 8 of bill acceptor 4that may receive serial signal in Step 66; and then, control device 8transmits denomination signals to gaming machine 3 (Step 56). Thisallows to provide gaming machine 3 with drive signals of the amountcorresponding to denomination signal in accordance with built-in programin gaming machine 3, and sends drive signals to gaming machine 3 toconduct a game. Then, gaming machine 3 stops its operation in Step 57.

In Step 61, when payment device 6 does not approve holder's accountbecause of incorrect account number or transaction fee amount as beingout of a deposit balance at the account, payment device 6 produces anunauthorized signal to communications device 5 that produces no-dealsignal to mobile terminal 10 and display device 25 and finishes allprocedure in Step 63. If remotely operable signals contain PIN and/or IDnumber, payment device 6 also decides whether it corresponds to one ofpass-codes or secret number in financial database 7 in addition toidentification of holder's account number at financial database 7. WhenPIN and/or ID number corresponds to pass-codes or secret numbers,payment device 6 produces an authorized signal, but, adversely, PINand/or ID number does not correspond to pass-codes or secret numberspayment device 6 produces an unauthorized signal.

Gaming machine 3 may include all money-operated electronic gamingmachines such as slot machines provided with any drive device forgenerating drive signals after payment by denomination signals of billsconsidered genuine by bill acceptor 4. Control device 8 may retain itsmemory area the transaction fee amount, holder's account number offinancial database 7 and specific code identifying gaming machine andalso transmit and write these information in storage device 12 attachedto stacker 9. When payment device 6 makes unauthorized decision onpayment in Step 61, it produces an unauthorized signal on payment tosignal processor 5 b (Step 62) to cease operations (Step 63).

On the other hand, when user selects cash payment, processing alsobegins with Step 50 in FIG. 4 and goes to Step 51 where withoutelectronic signals received by signal processor 5 b, and he or sheinserts a bill or bills into bill acceptor 4 in Step 52, and, controldevice 8 receives detection signal from inlet sensor 21, whileconsidering on whether inserted bill is genuine or not in Step 53. Whencontrol device 8 determines the bill to be inauthentic, it drivesconveyor in the reverse direction to return bill to inlet of billacceptor 4 (Step 58), and ceases the operation in Step 59. Adversely,when control device 8 considers bill to be genuine in Step 53, itdetermines the amount of bill (Step 54); stacker 9 stows the billtherein (Step 55); control device 8 forwards its denomination signal togaming machine 3 (Step 56) to perform continuous operations and to stopthe operation (Step 57). In this way, communications device 5 allows forcashless operation of gaming machine after verification of the monetarysignals in remotely operable signals received from mobile terminal 10.

When gaming machine 3 has completed its program-controlled operation orwhen a player operates a force-quit button 24, gaming machine 3immediately ceases the game, and at the same time, gaming machine 3generates and transmits to communications device 5 and printing machine11, management codes and a refund money signal of an unspent remainingamount or payback amount data such as award, prize or jackpot obtainedfrom the game if any, and communications device 5 transmits the refundmoney signal to mobile terminal 10. Then, printer 51 of printing machine11 prints refund money signal on a printing media and dispenses a couponthereof. In lieu of or in addition to dispensing a coupon, gamingmachine 3 may send refund or payback amount data to communicationsdevice 5 that may convert the received refund money signal into apredetermined format and send them to mobile terminal 10. In this way,this system is very convenient for users who can receive goods, servicesor amusement from automated machine 11 with real-time electronic paymentfor transaction while a owner of automated machine 11 can surely receivea spot payment without credit transaction.

Unlike the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 utilizing automatic paymentdevice 6 and financial database 7, FIG. 5 is a block diagramschematically showing another embodiment of the electronic paymentsystem of a prepaid type applied to a gaming machine. In FIG. 5, samereference symbols are applied to same or similar elements shown in FIG.2, omitting their description. Mobile terminal 10 of FIG. 5 comprises amemory device 34 such as a memory card or flash memory in cellular phonefor storing code information that includes an account number of aholder's debit or prepaid card, PIN (Personal Identification Number)and/or ID (Identification) number, an entry device 31 such as anumerical keypad or keyboard in cellular phone for inputting antransaction fee amount signals such as gaming fees into memory device34, a CPU 35 electrically connected to all means for preparing remotelyoperable signals inclusive of the code information stored from memorydevice 34, a transmission device 32 for transmitting remotely operablesignals from CPU 35 to communications device 5, reception means 33 forreceiving a deal signal from communications device 5 when communicationsdevice 5 transmits to mobile terminal 10 the deal signal produced bycommunications device 5, and a battery (not shown) for supplyingelectric power to each means to perform reading, writing, transmittingand receiving functions in mobile terminal 10.

Memory device 34 does not need to store the code information forenhancement in security if any code signals may be produced by entrydevice 31 and transmitted outside through transmission device 32. Asingle convertible transceiver means may be used for transmission andreception means 32, 33. CPU 35 may prepare remotely operable signalsthat contain transaction fee signals and a code signal inclusive ofaccount number of debit or prepaid card, PIN (Personal IdentificationNumber) and/or ID (Identification) number.

In this embodiment, memory device 34 of mobile terminal 10 stores anelectronic amount signal of prepaid money and at least one of specificPIN and ID number signals for identifying a holder of mobile terminal10. Transmission device 32 emits remotely operable signals including theat least one of the specific signals. A storage unit 13 in printingmachine 11 stores at least one of users' specific PIN and ID signals.Communications device 5 in printing machine 11 is connected to automatedmachine 1 and receives remotely operable signals emitted from mobileterminal 10 to retrieve at least one of the specific signals in remotelyoperable signals. Communications device 5 also receives monetary signalsindicative of a transaction fee necessary to drive automated machine 1simultaneously with, before or after receiving remotely operablesignals. Monetary signal may be contained in remotely operable signalsso that it may be emitted from mobile terminal 10 and received bycommunications device 5.

Otherwise, monetary signals may be produced by entry device 25 tocommunications device 5. When communications device 5 decides thatmonetary signals and at least specific signal are valid as a result ofcomparing the at least specific signal with that stored in storage unit13, communications device 5 produces monetary signals to drive automatedmachine 1 and also produces a deduction signal of transaction fee tomobile terminal 10. Subsequently, mobile terminal 10 receives deductionsignal from communication device 5 to deduct transaction fee fromprepaid money amount in memory device 34.

What is claimed are:
 1. An electronic payment system comprising: amobile terminal for emitting remotely operable signals, a printingmachine arranged off from the mobile terminal, a financial database of abanking depository system, and an automated machine driven by theprinting machine, the printing machine comprising a communicationsdevice for receiving the remotely operable signals emitted from themobile terminal to drive the automated machine, an automatic paymentdevice connected to the communications device and the financialdatabase, and a printer connected to the communications device forprinting information on a record radium, wherein the communicationsdevice retrieves from the remotely operable signals account numbersignals identifying a holder of the account at the financial databaseand retrieves from the remotely operable signals or receives monetarysignals indicative of a transaction fee necessary to drive the automatedmachine simultaneously with, before or after receiving the remotelyoperable signals, and the automatic payment device receives from thecommunications device the holder's account number signals and the amountof the transaction fee, withdraws the amount of the transaction fee fromthe holder's account at the financial database with the holder's accountnumber signals and the monetary signals, deposits the withdrawntransaction fee into another person's account at the financial databaseconcerned with the automated machine and produces an authorizationsignal to the communications device, the communications device producesthe monetary signals indicative of the transaction fee to drive theautomated machine, and the printer prints on the recording medium themonetary signals indicative of the transaction fee received from thecommunications device and issues the recording medium.
 2. The electronicpayment system of claim 1, wherein the automatic payment devicewithdraws the amount of the transaction fee from the holder's account ofthe financial database when the transaction fee is within a depositbalance of the account.
 3. The electronic payment system of claim 1,wherein the communications device receives from the mobile terminal bothof the remotely operable signals inclusive of the holder's accountnumber signals and the monetary signals to retrieve both of the holder'saccount number signals and the monetary signals from the remotelyoperable signals, and the automatic payment device receives the holder'saccount number signals and the monetary signals from the communicationsdevice and withdraws the amount of the transaction fee from the holder'saccount at the financial database.
 4. The electronic payment system ofclaim 1, further comprising: an entry device for inputting andtransmitting the monetary signals to the communications device, whereinthe automatic payment device receives the monetary signals from thecommunications device and withdraws the amount of the transaction feefrom the holder's account at the financial database.
 5. The electronicpayment system of claim 1, wherein the remotely operable signals includeat least one of specific PIN and ID number signals for identifying theholder in addition to the holder's account number, the communicationsdevice receives at least one of the PIN and ID number signals along withthe remotely operable signals, the automatic payment device receivesfrom the communications device and retrieves at least one of the PIN andID number signals from the remotely operable signals and withdraws theamount of the transaction fee from the holder's account at the financialdatabase when at least one of the PIN and ID number signals correspondsto one of security numbers at the financial database.
 6. The electronicpayment system of claim 1, further comprising: an entry device forinputting and transmitting to the communications device at least one ofPIN and ID number signals for identifying the holder, the automaticpayment device receives at least one of the PIN and ID number signalsfrom the communications device and withdraws the amount of thetransaction fee from the holder's account at the financial database whenat least one of the PIN and ID number signals corresponds to one ofsecurity numbers at the financial database.
 7. The electronic paymentsystem of claim 1, further comprising: a display device connected to thecommunications device, wherein the communications device receives theauthorization signal from the automatic payment device to produce andtransmit a deal signal to the mobile terminal or to the display deviceto exhibit the deal signal thereon.
 8. The electronic payment system ofclaim 1, further comprising: a display device connected to thecommunications device, wherein when the communications device receivesthe remotely operable signals but fails to retrieve the holder's accountnumber signals from the remotely operable signals, the communicationsdevice produces and transmits a no-deal signal to the mobile terminal orto the visual display device.
 9. The electronic payment system of claim1, wherein the communications device comprises: a communicationsinterface for receiving the remotely operable signals from the mobileterminal, and a signal processor for receiving the remotely operablesignals from the communications interface and retrieving and producingthe account number signals identifying the holder of the account at thefinancial database.
 10. The electronic payment system of claim 1,wherein the automated machine is a vending machine drivingly connectedto the communications device, the communications device forwards themonetary signals to the vending machine that dispenses an article orarticles of the money amount equivalent to the transaction fee.
 11. Theelectronic payment system of claim 1, wherein the automated machine is agaming machine drivingly connected to the communications device, thecommunications device forwards the monetary signals to the gamingmachine that performs a gaming with the amount equivalent to the valueof the transaction fee.
 12. The electronic payment system of claim 1,further comprising: a bill acceptor for validating a bill inserted fromoutside to produce the monetary signals when the bill acceptor decidesthat the inserted bill is genuine, wherein the bill acceptor receivesthe monetary signals from the communications device and forwards to theautomated machine the both monetary signals that the bill acceptorproduces and relays from the communications device, the automatedmachine is driven by the monetary signals of the amount equivalent tothe value of the transaction fee.
 13. The electronic payment system ofclaim 11, further comprising: a bill acceptor for validating a billinserted from outside to produce the monetary signals when the billacceptor decides that the inserted bill is genuine, wherein the billacceptor receives the monetary signals from the communications deviceand forwards to the automated machine the both monetary signals that thebill acceptor produces and relays from the communications device, theautomated machine is a vending machine or a gaming machine driven by themonetary signals of the amount equivalent to the value of thetransaction fee from the communications device.
 14. The electronicpayment system of claim 12, wherein the transaction fee indicates amoney amount corresponding to each denomination of bills optically ormagnetically readable by the bill acceptor.
 15. The electronic paymentsystem of claim 13, wherein the gaming machine generates and transmitsto the communications device a refund money signal of an unspentremaining amount, award, prize or jackpot obtained from the game if anywhen the gaming machine has completed its program-controlled operationor when a force-quit button is operated to terminate the game, and thecommunications device transmits the refund money signal to the mobileterminal.
 16. The electronic payment system of claim 15, wherein theprinter of the printing machine prints on the recording medium gameinformation and data on the refund money signal the gaming machineproduces to issue the recording medium.
 17. The electronic paymentsystem comprising: a mobile terminal for emitting remotely operablesignals, a printing machine arranged off from the mobile terminal, andan automated machine driven by monetary signals from the printingmachine, the mobile terminal comprising: a memory device for storing anelectronic amount signal of prepaid money and at least one of specificPIN and ID number signals for identifying a holder of the mobileterminal, a transmission device for emitting the remotely operablesignals including at least the electronic amount signal and the specificsignal, and a reception device for receiving a deduction signal emittedfrom the printing machine, the printing machine comprising: acommunications device for receiving the remotely operable signalsemitted from the mobile terminal, a storage device for storing at leastone of users' PIN and ID number signals, and a recording deviceconnected to the communications device for printing information on arecord radium, wherein the communication device: (i) receives theremotely operable signals from the movable terminal, (ii) retrieves theelectronic amount signal and the at least one of the specific signals inthe remotely operable signals, (iii) also receives monetary signalsindicative of a transaction fee necessary to drive the automated machinesimultaneously with, before or after receiving the remotely operablesignals, the monetary signals being either contained in the receivedremotely operable signals or transmitted from an entry device providedin the automated machine, (iv) compares the at least one of the specificsignals with the at least one of users' PIN and ID number signals storedin the storage device, (v) produces monetary signals when thecommunications device considers the monetary signals and the at leastone of the specific signals to be effective as a result of thecomparison to drive the automated device with the monetary signals, (vi)deposits the withdrawn transaction fee into another person's accountconcerned with the automated machine, and (vii) forwards the deductionsignal to the reception device of the mobile terminal, the receptiondevice in the mobile terminal receives the deduction signal from thecommunications device to deduct the transaction fee from the prepaidmoney amount in the memory, and the printer prints on the recordingmedium the monetary signals indicative of the transaction fee receivedfrom the communications device and issues the recording medium.
 18. Theelectronic payment system of claim 17, further comprising: a billacceptor for validating a bill inserted from outside to produce themonetary signals when the bill acceptor decides that the inserted billis genuine, wherein the bill acceptor receives the monetary signals fromthe communications device and forwards to the automated machine the bothmonetary signals that the bill acceptor produces and relays from thecommunications device, the automated machine is driven with the monetarysignals of the amount equivalent to the value of the transaction fee.